Arrangement for achieving holding engagement with the inside of a pipe or stem

ABSTRACT

A pole-top light is connected to the open end of the hollow support hole. A support structure is connected to the light assembly and carries a spring which is positioned within the pole. A threaded rod connects the spring member to the support structure and itself has a threaded connection so that rotation of the rod displaces the spring in an axial direction against its inherent bias causing the spring member to expand laterally into binding engagement with the interior walls of the pole. The threaded rod is accessible from the exterior of the pole to permit selective engagement of the spring member with the interior pole walls or disengagement therefrom. Several alternative spring forms are disclosed (a bowed spring, resilient discs, etc.) as well as various arrangements of the threaded member to achieve displacement of the spring.

United States Patent 1 Jablonski ARRANGEMENT FOR ACHIEVING HOLDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INSIDE OF A PIPE OR STEM [75] Inventor: Edward R. Jablonski, South Milwaukee, Wis.

[73] Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company,

Milwaukee, Wis.

22 Filed: July 27,1972 21 Appl.No.: 275,888

[52] US. Cl 240/84, 240/90, 279/2 [51] Int. Cl F2ls 1/10 [58] Field of Search 285/221; 240/84, 90; 279/1 W, 279/2 {56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,280,620 4/1942 Benns et al. 279/2 X 163,217 5/1875 Lawson 279/2 1,160,625 11/1915 Long 279/2 X 2,204,508 6/1940 Matthies..... 27 /2 X 2,355,853 8/1944 Foxon 279/1 W 2,380,509 7/1945 Emerson 279/2 X Nisenson 279/2 X Hewson 240/84 X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-E. M. Bero 5 7 ABSTRACT A pole-top light is connected to the open end of the hollow support hole. A support structure is connected to the light assembly and carries a spring which is positioned within the pole. A threaded rod connects the spring member to the support structure and itself has a threaded connection so that rotation of the rod dis places the spring in an axial directionagainst its inherent bias causing the spring member to expand laterally into binding engagement with the interior walls of the pole. The threaded rod is accessible from the exterior of the pole to permit selective engagement of the spring member with the interior pole walls or disengagement therefrom. Several alternative spring forms are disclosed (a bowed spring, resilient discs, etc.) as well as various arrangements of the threaded member to achieve displacement of the spring.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 ARRANGEMENT FOR ACHIEVING HOLDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INSIDE OF A PIPE OR STEM BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to arrangements for connecting an assembly to a pole, stem or the like, and, more particularly, to such an arrangement usable to attach a light assembly to a pole or stem.

With the increasing development of area lighting, for example shopping centers, apartments, shopping malls, parking lots, and the like, increasing attention is being directed to the aesthetics of the lighting installation.

This invention is concerned with the aesthetic considerations of such lighting installations and has among its general objects to provide an-aesthetically acceptable connection of the light assembly to a pole top and, also, to do so in a manner which insures a secure attachment.

Another more general object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for achieving holding engagement of an assembly with the interior walls of a hollow member such as a pipe or stem.

For the achievement of these and other objects, an assembly is provided which includes holding means capable of exerting a bias and further being capable of movement against that bias into engagement with the interior walls of a hollow member in which it is positioned. In the assembly, means is provided for moving the holding means against the bias which includes an operating member operatively connected to the holding means and readily accessible from outside of the hollow member. Selective movement of the operating member effects movement of the holding means into and out of engagement with the interior walls of the hollow member.

With this arrangement the assembly is positioned so that it extends into the open end of the hollow member with the operating member accessible from the outside for selective movement to achieve the movement of the holding means into engagement with the interior walls of the hollow member. The movement as a result of which holding engagement of the holding means with the interior walls of the hollow member is achieved being against the inherent bias of the holding means, the holding means can then be released and will return to a natural position out of engagement with the interior walls of the hollow member.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from, the specifications and claims, as will obvious modifications of the embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken generally along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention; E;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section illustrating another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a section illustrating yet another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED f EMBODIMENT This invention has been illustrated and will be described in connection with a pole top light assembly as it will probably find wide application in that field. It is appreciated, however, that the general arrangement for achieving the holding engagement with the interior walls of a hollow member may be application beyond that specific use. Also, since the specific details of the light assembly are not necessary to an understanding of this invention, only a general showing of the light assembly has been made and it will not be described in detail.

Light assembly 10 is mounted atop a hollow pole 12 which can be an elongated pole extending from a ground support or a shorter stern connected in turn to some type of support arrangement such as an elongated pole on a wall.

The light assembly includes a lamp 14 connected to a support structure, pole top adapter 16, and a diffuser 18 also suitably connected to adapter 16.

The adapter 16 is a cast member which can take any suitable form depending, for example, on the design of the light assembly. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, adapter 16 also forms a part of the arrangement for clamping the light assembly to the top of pole 12. More specifically, adapter 16 has an annular recess 20 which fits onto the upper edge 22 of the pole and also includes a generally cylindrical body 24 projecting from a web 26 into the pole top. A pair of diametrically opposed notches 28 and 30 are provided at the free edge 32 of body 24. These notches receive a spring 34 which is generally rectangular in plan view but in transverse cross-section has a generally bowed shape.

An elongated threaded rod, bolt 36, has a head 38 at one end and passes through a clearance opening 40 in web 26 and is connected to adapter 16 by nut 42.

Plate 33 extends between a second pair of notches 35 and 37 and is anchored in the adapter by screws 39. Bolt 36 passes through a clearance hole 41 so that plate 33 holds the bolt and spring centered.

Head 38 and nut 42 provide opposed shoulders on bolt 36, one of which (head 38) engages pring 34. The axial distance between the shoulders determines the position of spring 34. More particularly, spring 34 has a natural bowed configuration as discussed above but turning nut 42 in one direction will cause the bolt 36 to advance upwardly (as viewed in FIG. 1). Upward movement of rod 36 tends to flatten spring 34 against the inherent bias of the spring. This displacement of the spring 34 in an axial direction causes the spring to flatten so that outer leg portions 44 and 46 of the spring move laterally relative to the adapter and into engagement with the interior walls of the pole. After initial engagement, continued movement of bolt 36 increases the force with which spring 34 engages the interior pole walls to enhance the holding action.

Spring 34, being positioned in notches 28 and 30, is held against rotation as the bolt 36 is advanced. Also, the bottom walls 48 and 50 of the notches are disposed at an angle to the axis of bolt 36. In tending to flatten, spring 34 bears against these angle surfaces, which in turn cooperate in directing the lateral expansion of the spring member.

With this arrangement, the basic holding assembly is positioned interiorly of the pole but the mechanism for abhieving the holding engagement is accessible from exteriorly of the pole, i.e., nut 42, so that a secure holding engagement of the light assembly on the pole top is achieved without any effect on the exterior appearance of either the light assembly or the pole. Accordingly, a

secure holding engagement is provided and the holding assembly does not have to be taken into consideration in the aesthetic design of the light assembly.

It will be appreciated that various arrangements can be adopted for axially displacing or, more specifically, flattening spring 34 to in turn produce the lateral movement of the spring and the holding engagement with the interior pole walls. To illustrate some of the other embodiment which can be used attention will now be directed to FIGS. 35 for a description of some alternatlves.

FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that a second spring 52 has been added. Spring 52 is at right angles to spring 34 and, in the same manner as the seating of spring 34 in notches 28 and 30, spring 36 seats in notches 53 and 54. This arrangement provides two springs to increase the spring holding force.

FIG. 4 illustrates a different configuration spring, but still basically a bowed spring with a central web section 56 and spring legs 58 and 60 at the opposite ends thereof. The elongated rod, bolt 62, in this instance makes operative engagement with the spring through a diametrically disposed draw bar 64. In this arrangement, bolt 62 extends through clearance opening 66 in web 68 of the adapter. The rod has a threaded engagement with draw bar 64 and spring ends 58 and 60 are disposed in diametrically opposed notches 70 and 72 the bottom surfaces of which are again angled at 74 and 76. Rotation of bolt 62 causes draw bar 64 to move axially so that the draw bar can be advanced upwardly as viewed in the drawings to move legs 58 and 60 laterally of the adapter and into holding engagement with the interior pole walls. Again, this movement is against the inherent bias of the spring so that movement of the draw bar in an opposite direction allows the spring to return to its natural position releasing the holding engagement.

FIG. discloses an alternative wherein one or more resilient discs, preferably neoprene washers, are utilized instead of the bowed matallic spring. More specifically, three neoprene washers 78 are positioned within the top of pole 12 and between metal washers 80 and 82. In their natural or relaxed state, the washers are spaced from the interior walls of the pole. An elongated rod, bolt 84, extends through a clearance opening 86 in web 88 of support structure 90. The bolt 84 has a threaded engagement with washer 80 and washer 82 abuts the free or inner end 92 of body 94. Thus, by rotating bolt 84 washer 80 can be drawn upwardly displacing washers 78 in an axial direction and causing those washers to expand axially into a gripping engagement with the interior pole walls. This axial displacement and lateral movement is illustrated by the dotted lines in FIGS.

The alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 also illustrates a different form of support structure, i.e., it is provided with an elongated neck which if often provided for aesthetic purposes.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with various embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that still other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. The combination comprising,

a generally elongated, hollow member having an open end,

a light assembly including an adapter extending into said open end,

5 an elongated threaded member connected to said adapter and extending into said hollow member generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof but accessible from exteriorly of said hollow member for producing turning movement thereof relative to said adapter,

means defining a threaded connection for and in which said elongated threaded member is rotatable,

a spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and including a central web portion and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion toward the inner walls of said hollow member,

and means connecting said spring member to said elongated member and operative to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said bowed spring moving said leg portions laterally into clamping engagement with said inner walls of said hollow member to hold said adapter against removal from said hollow member and said light assembly on said hollow member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt,

wherein said adapter includes a surface facing outwardly relative to said hollow member open end and having an aperture therein,

wherein said bolt extends through said adapter aperture and has its head in engagement with said bowed portion of said spring member,

and including a nut disposed at said aperture in engagement with said adapter surface and in which threaded connection,

whereby relative rotation of said bolt and said nut advance said bolt axially tending to flatten said spring member.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a second spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion toward the inner walls of said hollow member, said connecting means also connecting said second spring member to said elongated member to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said second spring member to urge the leg portions thereof into clamping engagement with said inner walls,

and wherein said second spring member is disposed at an angle to said first mentioned spring member and is connected to said bolt head so that axial ad- 60 1 vancement of said bolt also tends to flatten said second spring member.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said spring members each include an aperture, said apertures are aligned, and said bolt extends through said apertures with both of said spring members bearing on said bolt head.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said spring member includes an aperture and said bolt extends said bolt is threaded to thereby provide said through said aperture in said spring member, said spring member bearing on said bolt head.

6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said adapter includes surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of said hollow member and against which the leg portions of said spring member bear as said spring member is flattened.

7. The combination of claim 1 including a second spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion toward the inner walls of said hollow member, said connecting means also connecting said second spring member to said elongated member to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said second spring member to urge the leg portions thereof into clamping engagement with said inner walls,

and wherein said second spring member is disposed at an angle to said first mentioned spring member.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said adapter includes surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of said hollow members and against which the leg portions of said spring members bear as said spring members are flattened.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of said hollow member and against which the leg portions of said spring member bear as said spring member is flattened.

10. The combination of claim 1 including a bar positioned generally perpendicular to the axis of said hollow member, said bar extending between and engaging said leg portions of said spring member,

wherein said threaded connection for said elongated threaded member is with said bar,

and including means holding said bar against rotation and said elongated threaded member is being held against axial movement so that said bar is free to advance axially in response to rotation of said elongated threaded member,

whereby rotation of said elongated threaded member advances said bar axially tending to flatten said spring and produce said clamping engagement. 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt,

said adapter includes a surface facing outwardly relative to said hollow member open end and having an aperture therein,

and said bolt extends through said adapter aperture and has its head in engagement with said adapter surface adjacent said aperture and its opposite end in threaded engagement with said bar.

12. An assembly for achieving holding engagement with the interior walls of a hollow member comprising, in combination,

a support structure,

an elongated threaded member,

means connecting said elongated threaded member to said support structure for rotational movement relative to said support structure,

means defining a threaded connection for and in which said elongated threaded member is rotatable,

a spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and including a central web portion and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said elongated threaded member,

and means connecting said spring member to said elongated member and operative to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said bowed spring whereby said assembly can be positioned in the open end of a hollow, generally tubular member and rotation of said elongated threaded member flattens said spring urging the leg portions thereof into clamping engagement with the inner walls of said hollow member.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt,

wherein said support structure includes a surface facing outwardly relative to said bowed spring member and having an aperture therein,

wherein said bolt extends through said support structure aperture and has its head in engagement with said bowed portion of said spring member,

and including a nut disposed at said aperture in engagement with said adapter surface and in which said bolt is threaded to thereby provide said threaded connection,

whereby relative rotation of said bolt and said nut advance said bolt axially tending to flatten said spring member.

14. The combination of claim 12 including a bar positioned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said threaded member, said bar extending between and engaging said leg portions of said spring member,

wherein said threaded connection for said elongated threaded member is with said bar,

and including means holding said bar against rotation and said elongated threaded member being held against axial movement so that said bar is free to advance axially in response to rotation of said elongated threaded member, whereby rotation of said elongated threaded member advances said bar axially tending to flatten said spring and produce said clamping engagement.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt,

said support structure includes a surface facing out wardly relative to said spring member and having an aperture therein,

and said bolt extends through said support structure and has its head in engagement with said support structure surface adjacent said aperture and its opposite end in threaded engagement with said bar.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE is CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,794,826 I I Dated February 26, I974 Invent r( EDWARD R. JABLONSKI It is certified that error appears in the above-identi'fied patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 31, "adapter" should read --support structure--. I

Column 6, line 58, after "structure" the word -aperture-- should be inserted.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day f July 1974:

Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHERJR. C.MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. The combination comprising, a generally elongated, hollow member having an open end, a light assembly including an adapter extending into said open end, an elongated threaded member connected to said adapter and extending into said hollow member generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof but accessible from exteriorly of said hollow member for producing turning movement thereof relative to said adapter, means defining a threaded connection for and in which said elongated threaded member is rotatable, a spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and including a central web pOrtion and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion toward the inner walls of said hollow member, and means connecting said spring member to said elongated member and operative to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said bowed spring moving said leg portions laterally into clamping engagement with said inner walls of said hollow member to hold said adapter against removal from said hollow member and said light assembly on said hollow member.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt, wherein said adapter includes a surface facing outwardly relative to said hollow member open end and having an aperture therein, wherein said bolt extends through said adapter aperture and has its head in engagement with said bowed portion of said spring member, and including a nut disposed at said aperture in engagement with said adapter surface and in which said bolt is threaded to thereby provide said threaded connection, whereby relative rotation of said bolt and said nut advance said bolt axially tending to flatten said spring member.
 3. The combination of claim 2 including a second spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion toward the inner walls of said hollow member, said connecting means also connecting said second spring member to said elongated member to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said second spring member to urge the leg portions thereof into clamping engagement with said inner walls, and wherein said second spring member is disposed at an angle to said first mentioned spring member and is connected to said bolt head so that axial advancement of said bolt also tends to flatten said second spring member.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said spring members each include an aperture, said apertures are aligned, and said bolt extends through said apertures with both of said spring members bearing on said bolt head.
 5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said spring member includes an aperture and said bolt extends through said aperture in said spring member, said spring member bearing on said bolt head.
 6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said adapter includes surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of said hollow member and against which the leg portions of said spring member bear as said spring member is flattened.
 7. The combination of claim 1 including a second spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion toward the inner walls of said hollow member, said connecting means also connecting said second spring member to said elongated member to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said second spring member to urge the leg portions thereof into clamping engagement with said inner walls, and wherein said second spring member is disposed at an angle to said first mentioned spring member.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said adapter includes surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of said hollow members and against which the leg portions of said spring members bear as said spring members are flattened.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adapter includes surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of said hollow member and against which the leg portions of said spring member bear as said spring member is flattened.
 10. The combination of claim 1 including a bar positioned generally perpendicular to the axis of said hollow member, said bar extending between and engaging said leg portions of said spring member, wherein said threaded connection for said elongated threaded member is with said bar, and including means holding said bar against rotation and said elongated threaded member is being held against axial movement so that said bar is free to advance axially in response to rotation of said elongated threaded member, whereby rotation of said elongated threaded member advances said bar axially tending to flatten said spring and produce said clamping engagement.
 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt, said adapter includes a surface facing outwardly relative to said hollow member open end and having an aperture therein, and said bolt extends through said adapter aperture and has its head in engagement with said adapter surface adjacent said aperture and its opposite end in threaded engagement with said bar.
 12. An assembly for achieving holding engagement with the interior walls of a hollow member comprising, in combination, a support structure, an elongated threaded member, means connecting said elongated threaded member to said support structure for rotational movement relative to said support structure, means defining a threaded connection for and in which said elongated threaded member is rotatable, a spring member having a bowed configuration in axial cross section and including a central web portion and oppositely projecting leg portions extending from said web portion at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said elongated threaded member, and means connecting said spring member to said elongated member and operative to translate rotation of said threaded member in said threaded connection into flattening movement of said bowed spring whereby said assembly can be positioned in the open end of a hollow, generally tubular member and rotation of said elongated threaded member flattens said spring urging the leg portions thereof into clamping engagement with the inner walls of said hollow member.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt, wherein said support structure includes a surface facing outwardly relative to said bowed spring member and having an aperture therein, wherein said bolt extends through said support structure aperture and has its head in engagement with said bowed portion of said spring member, and including a nut disposed at said aperture in engagement with said adapter surface and in which said bolt is threaded to thereby provide said threaded connection, whereby relative rotation of said bolt and said nut advance said bolt axially tending to flatten said spring member.
 14. The combination of claim 12 including a bar positioned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said threaded member, said bar extending between and engaging said leg portions of said spring member, wherein said threaded connection for said elongated threaded member is with said bar, and including means holding said bar against rotation and said elongated threaded member being held against axial movement so that said bar is free to advance axially in response to rotation of said elongated threaded member, whereby rotation of said elongated threaded member advances said bar axially tending to flatten said spring and produce said clamping engagement.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said elongated threaded member comprises a headed elongated bolt, said support structure includes a surface facing outwardly relative to said spring member and having an aperture therein, and said bolt extends through said support structure and has its head in engagement with said support structure surface adjacent said aperture and its opposite end in threaded engagement with said bar. 